Client: Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Authors: Tanya Stasio, PhD, Sagal Alisalad, Elizabeth A. Stanton, PhD, Jordan Burt, PhD, Joshua R. Castigliego, and Bryndis Woods, PhD
March 2026
On behalf of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Senior Researcher Tanya Stasio, PhD, Researcher Sagal Alisalad, Principal Economist Liz Stanton, PhD, and AEC staff prepared a background report that evaluates Connecticut's electric and gas utility shutoff policies for medically protected customers. Most of Connecticut's medically protected customers have year-round shutoff protection and, as a result, maintain average arrearages that are thousands of dollars more than customers without medical protections. While limiting shutoff protections may increase utility revenues and reduce ratepayer costs, AEC finds that introducing payment or financial hardship requirements to Connecticut shutoff protections for medically protected customers could cost the State of Connecticut billions by way of increased need for social services.
This report was included as an Appendix to Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority's Report to the General Assembly Regarding the Evaluation of Medical Protection available here.